10 games to watch in Arkansas high school football in Week 9

This week's top games in Arkansas prep football

Since before the 2022 season began, the final two weeks of the regular season were expected to feature important games that would end up deciding top playoff seedings. That point of the year has arrived and it has lived up to expectations, as each one of the matchups below will have an impact on the top two seeds from respective conferences.  

Here are 10 games to watch in Arkansas high school football for Week 9.

Benton (6-2) vs. West Memphis (6-2)

West Memphis has continued to be one of the surprise teams in Class 6A after beginning the season 4-0 and looks to steal one on the road from No. 18 Benton, a squad who has played well after winning the 6A-West in 2021. The Panthers boast an offense that has averaged just shy of 60 points per game in the past five contests and a win will all but secure the two-seed in the 6A-East.

Conway Christian (6-2) vs. Bigelow (6-1)

The winner of this one will be in the driver’s seat to be the undisputed 2A-1 champion. After winning just one game a year ago, the Eagles have been one of the most improved teams in Class 2A and have shut out their past three opponents. Conway Christian will have home field advantage, but Bigelow will be one of the Eagles’ toughest tests up to this point boasting an offense that averages 42 points in the past four games, while the defense has surrendered just 12 points per contest through eight games.

Gentry (7-1) vs. Elkins (7-1)

Excluding a Week 1 42-22 loss to Charleston, Elkins’ defense has not allowed more than 21 points which the Elks surrendered in a win over Ozark last week and have pitched two shutouts since September 30. They are currently at the top of the 4A-1 standings with one of the top offenses in Class 4A (43 points per game). The Pioneers rebounded to defeat Lincoln last Friday following a Week 7 lopsided 63-34 loss to Ozark, and look to keep their conference title hopes alive with a strong offense putting up 48 points per game.

Glen Rose (5-2) vs. Centerpoint (7-0)

Glen Rose’s coaching staff had a feeling the difficult nonconference schedule would pay off and so far it has as the Beavers have dominated 3A-4 competition 159-33 in the past four games. The unbeaten Knights, who also boast a strong rushing attack and defense, stand in the Beavers’ way with hopes of ruining senior night and to head back home still at the top of the league standings.

Greenwood (7-1) vs. Pulaski Academy (8-0)

The premier Week 9 matchup statewide features the fourth-ranked Bruins who will travel to hostile Smith-Robinson Stadium with the top spot in the 6A-West on the line to take on the sixth-ranked Bulldogs, who have not lost on their home turf in 53 games. Since falling to Stillwater (Okla.) - the No. 1 team in Class 6A-II per Tulsa World- in Week 0, Greenwood has won seven games in a row, while Pulaski Academy boasts yet another high-flying offense putting up 53 points per game.

Hot Springs (6-2) vs. Camden Fairview (7-1)

The final two weeks will be exciting for the top teams in the 5A-South and it starts this week at Tommy Holt Stadium. No. 16 Camden Fairview is in first place and brings its seven-game win streak to face off against a much-improved Trojan squad that has given opponents fits all year. The 23rd-ranked Trojans have scored 47 points per game in their last four contests, while the Cardinals have blanked their last two opponents by a combined 98-0. Coverage of this game can be heard live on 103.7 The Buzz starting at 6:45 PM.

Lavaca (6-2) vs. Booneville (6-2)

Following a 42-14 win over a short-handed Booneville squad, Charleston has the lead in the 3A-1, but it goes without saying that this matchup will have a big impact on the conference playoff seedings. Booneville will have to stick together and overcome unexpected adversity, while Lavaca is also looking to rebound after starting 6-0 for the first time since 2005 but dropped its previous two contests by a combined two points.

Prairie Grove (7-1) vs. Shiloh Christian (7-1)

No. 17 Shiloh Christian scored 21 unanswered points to pull away from Farmington last week to remain at the top of the 5A-West standings and are on a mission to remain there. Prairie Grove is probably the quietest 7-1 team in the state, and probably like it that way, but will face their stiffest competition up to this point - at least within Arkansas - as they look to slow down a dominant Saints offense averaging 54 points per game in league play.

Quitman (5-2-1) vs. Melbourne (8-0)

Melbourne has continued to build on its best start in school history but expects to be pushed by a quality opponent for the second week in a row as they travel to play a hot Quitman squad. The Bulldogs, who are currently one game behind the Bearkatz in the 3A-2 standings, had a tough start to September tying Hector, followed by losses to Gentry and Newport. Since then, they have reeled off four-straight wins while averaging 46 points per game in that span.

Valley View (7-1) vs. Nettleton (7-1)

No. 22 Valley View leads the 5A-East race and controls its own destiny having won its last seven games, while the twentieth-ranked Raiders trail the Blazers by 1.5 games. The East has been possibly the wildest back-and-forth conference in the state and there expects to be even more of that in the final two weeks of the regular season. If the visiting Raiders are to come out with the win, the madness will continue.